Nowadays, there are numerous different types of bioplastics. After a brief explanation of the bio-based materials (eg, rubber, viscose, or celluloid) that were invented before the manufacture of petrochemical plastics, the focus of the study is on materials that have only been lau
Study (2017): Global Wood Pellet Industry and Trade
The global production of wood pellets has increased four-fold over the past ten years - from an estimated 6-7 megatons (Mt) in 2006 to more than 26 Mt in 2015/16.
Study (2017): Production, use, and fate of plastics
This is the result of the publication of a research group by Roland Geyer from the University of California. According to this, two million tons of plastics were produced worldwide in 1950 - in 2015, it was 380 million tons of plastic.
Global Footprint Network (2017): Earth Overshoot Day
Thirty years ago, almost everything was going well
2017, the natural resources that can be generated within one year were already consumed by August 2nd. In 2008 the Earth Overshoot Day fell on 23 September, 1987 it was the 19th of December. The Global Footprint Network, an international organization committed to sustainability, calculates annually on which day of the year the annual resources are spent and from which day on humanity will survive on “credit” until 31 December.
Liquid wood conserves resources
In 1998, Tecnaro GmbH was set up in Pfinztal as a spin-off from the Frauenhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) with the aim of bringing a new kind of medium to market. Since its foundation, it has been developing, producing and selling premium thermoplastic materials made from liquid wood. Together with Helmut Nägele, Jürgen Pfitzer has been managing the company in Ilsfeld-Auenstein, Baden-Württemberg, since 1998.
Making disposable nappies compostable
Nappies of renewable raw materials that are completely biodegradable: That is the aim that Dominik Franck is pursuing with his 'Fairwindel' company. 'Inspired' by his daughter's mountain of nappies, the chemist has developed a new type of nappy partly consisting of potato starch and maize. The 'Fairwindel' company, managed by Franck together with his wife in Mühlenbeck near Berlin, was commended in 2015 as a sustainability startup.
Insects instead of beef in burgers
Insects as food present many advantages. That is something that Max Krämer, founder of Bugfoundation, is convinced about. What the geographer once encountered and learned to appreciate on his trips to Asia will soon be winning converts here. The young entrepreneur from Osnabrück plans to make European fast food healthier and more sustainable by means of the first 'insect burger'.
3D printing with bioplastics
Simply dispose of cups, toys or shoes by throwing them onto the compost heap: That is what Thorsten Perl had in mind when developing his new 3D printer material. Together with his business partner Brian Cotty and their BioInspirations start-up based in the German city Eberswalde, the inventor of this sustainable printing filament is gaining enthusiasts for 'WillowFlex', and not just amongst 3D printer fans.
Plant breeding using CRISPR-Cas molecular scissors
Researchers first presented the CRISPR-Cas genomic scissors in 2012 in the journal Science. In the meantime, the molecular precision tool has revolutionised the field of molecular biology. Holger Puchta from the KIT is one of the first researchers to use these genomic scissors to make targeted modifications to the genetic material of plants. In the interview, he explains how so-called genome editing works, and why the agricultural crops that result from this technology are indistinguishable from natural plants.